Henrik Ibsen
read by
Expatriate
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Translated by Charles Harold Herford
Inflamed by what he saw as his Norwegian homeland's shocking betrayal of
Denmark after the Prussian invasion of Danish territory, Ibsen wrote "Brand"
as an indictment of human complacency and rigidity of mind. Composing
this "dramatic poem" from his self-imposed exile in Italy, Ibsen had long
agonized over the philistine provincialism of his countrymen, but the
abandonment of Denmark took on the dimensions in his imagination of a
human tragedy far surpassing his own personal experiences. Brand is a
priest who refuses to compromise, at the cost of great suffering to others,
and who lives by unrealizable ideals. The play revolves around a cast of
remarkable characters, such as Gerd the mad peasant girl with delusions of
God; Ejnar the complacent artist; and Agnes the devoted lover. Ibsen's
breakthrough work, "Brand" could be seen as the true beginning of Ibsen's
career, and although (or because?) it was at the time the most fiercely-
debated work of literature in Scandinavian history, it always remained one
of the playwright's favorite productions. The ambiguity of the character of
Brand himself, principled and heroic while flawed, continues to challenge
the individual dogmatism of every reader, and was seen by Ibsen as
representing himself at both his best and his worst. - Summary by Expatriate
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Read by Expatriate. Total running time: 4:57:56
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Cover picture by Maurice Dumont ((1895)). Copyright expired in U.S., Canada, EU. and all
countries with author’s life +70 yrs laws. Cover design by Annise. This design is in the public
domain.